National Trust urged to rescue pub that made rock history

Campaigners trying to save one of Ireland's most famous music venues want it taken over by the National Trust. The Rotterdam bar, originally an 18th-century inn, survived the 1798 United Irishmen rebellion, two world wars and the bombs and bullets of Northern Ireland's Troubles. But the pub in Belfast's docks area faces being knocked down and turned into apartments after a consortium of local businessmen closed it last month.

Musicians who played in the pub over the last quarter of a century say the Rotterdam should be preserved in the same way as the Cavern Club in Liverpool has been. Bob Dylan is reputed to have jammed in the Rotterdam early in his career; Van Morrison first met his musical protege, Brian Kennedy, in the pub and a host of Irish traditional musicians, including Luka Bloom and Christy Moore, have appeared on stage in the bar. The late Ian Dury played his last ever gig at the Rotterdam before his death just three months later.

One musician who was still playing in the Rotterdam up until its closure last month, Ludwig O'Neill, said: 'I've been playing music in the Rotterdam with bands and as a solo artist for 18 years. It was part of mine and hundreds of others' lives. They are demolishing our city's history if they knock it down.' Asked if he and his campaigners, who are using Myspace.com as their online campaign headquarters, were fighting a losing battle, O'Neill added: 'We would all hope that someone who has a connection and affection for the Rotterdam might buy it and re-open it. But if they don't, why can't our new government in Stormont step in? The National Trust owns the Crown Bar because it's a major Northern Ireland tourist attraction. So why can't the Trust do the same for the Rotterdam? It's still on the tourist board's website as a must-see venue, especially for Americans and others coming off cruise ships anchored in Belfast docks.'

The Rotterdam started life in 1797 as a holding centre for convicts being deported.